Doctors in surgeries and hospitals as well as alternative practitioners are obliged under the Infection Protection Act (IFSG) to report suspected cases of certain infectious diseases, suspected vaccination complications or tuberculosis to the health authority at the patient's place of residence without delay.

If a doctor has not been consulted, members of a state-recognized medical and nursing profession, as well as the managers of care facilities, prisons, homes, camps or similar facilities are also obliged to report any suspicion of an infectious disease.

Laboratories are obliged under the IFSG to immediately report the detection of pathogens to the public health department of the place where the sender of the material works.

Employees of the Infection Protection Department of the public health department conduct research to characterize the disease, its spread and sources of infection more precisely, advise the sick persons, take measures to interrupt chains of infection and transmit the anonymized data obtained daily to an office at state level for further processing and analysis.